updated 08:50 am EST, Tue February 26, 2008

MacBook Pro Penryn

Apple today announced long-awaited upgrades for both its MacBook and MacBook Pro portables, adding Intel's 45 nanometer Penryn architecture for its Core 2 Duo processors. All systems now include the larger Level 2 cache, SSE4 media instructions, and reduced power consumption of the new chips. As the flagship, the MacBook Pro now receives the multi-touch trackpad from the MacBook Air and also adds the first LED backlighting option for the 17-inch display; choosing the high-resolution, 1920x1200 screen also adds the more color-accurate backlight and potentially extends battery life. Video memory has also been doubled across the line.

MacBook Pro prices start at $1,999 for a 2.4GHz 15-inch system with 2GB of memory, a 200GB hard drive, a dual-layer Superdrive, and a GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB of video memory; the $2,499 mid-range model boosts speeds to 2.5GHz, expands storage to 250GB, and introduces a 512MB GeForce 8600M GT chipset. The 17-inch model sells for $2,799 and chiefly adds the extra screen area.

The standard 13.3-inch MacBook goes without the advanced trackpad but receives a major upgrade to both its performance and storage. The standard 2.1GHz model adds both the architectural leap of Penryn and boosts storage from 80GB in the earlier model to 120GB while keeping the DVD/CD-RW Combo drive of before. Moving to the mid-tier, $1,299 model increases speed to 2.4GHz, doubles the amount of RAM to 2GB, and jumps to a 160GB hard drive as well as a dual-layer Superdrive. A black 2.4GHz model at $1,499 adds a 250GB hard drive.

All five systems are available to order immediately from the online Apple Store.

Now if..

Not likely...

12" notebooks are poorest sellers across the industry. There is very little interest (for the same reason they no longer make/sell 9" notebooks) - the screen is simply too small. The sub-notebook category is so minuscule that nobody is making money on it, unless they charge obscenely high amount for an under-powered, under-sized laptop.

Those who were buying 12" PowerBook because 15" was too heavy for them can now get MB Air and get the benefit of a normal-size keyboard and decent-size screen. If there still is someone left wanting a minuscule computer, they'll have to get a Windows machine; Apple simply can't afford to build a computer only to sell 17 of them.

Re: not likely

12" notebooks are poorest sellers across the industry.

So 12" is a poor seller, but Apple makes a 13" laptop. I guess that extra inch is a big key there or something, for it seems to sell well.

There is very little interest (for the same reason they no longer make/sell 9" notebooks) - the screen is simply too small. The sub-notebook category is so minuscule that nobody is making money on it, unless they charge obscenely high amount for an under-powered, under-sized laptop.

I don't know of anyone who would call a 12" laptop a "sub-notebook".

Oh, and your description on how to make money in it seems to describe the MacBook Air.

Those who were buying 12" PowerBook because 15" was too heavy for them

No, those who were buying the 12" Powerbook was because they wanted a PRO machine with the features of a 15" powerbook (unless you think the iBook of your was a pro machine). The MacBook doesn't compare because it's more consumer oriented.

...can now get MB Air and get the benefit of a normal-size keyboard and decent-size screen.

Again, no. The MacBook air is great as a nice little secondary computer, assuming you don't need any features. If you want firewire ports, USB ports, a DVD drive, card slot, it isn't a choice at all.

If there still is someone left wanting a minuscule computer, they'll have to get a Windows machine; Apple simply can't afford to build a computer only to sell 17 of them.

I'm sorry, the last time I checked, Apple was making 10 billion dollars a quarter with record profits. People are proclaiming their market share is rising. Yet you still try to pull the "they're a small bit player who have to keep the number of models low in order to just make any money" excuse?

Oh, and Apple doesn't have any problem selling MacPros while the 'large' market demand for those isn't there.

All they want is a computer the size of the MacBook (which, again, Apple makes, so someone must be using it) but with the features/capabilities/look of the pro. If Apple can afford to hit the niche market the Air sits in, there shouldn't be any reason they can't hit the niche of the 12" PB owners.

re: not likely

There is no consumer interest in sub-notebooks? I don't know where you get your stats, but t Eee PC (as an example), is on fire right now. There is plenty of demand for smaller, highly portable notebooks.

What?

I'm still a little confused on why everyone thinks that there is no need for a sub-notebook with ports. This is the reason why I kept my 12" mac in the family and simply didn't throw it on eBay. It is so easy to carry around and yet it has all that you need usb, firewire, optical drive, battery life, etc. Okay, so if you all think that they scrapped the 12" in favor of the 13" widescreen, which i also agree on, why not have 13", 15" and 17" MBP's? It doesn't really make sense to me. I know plenty of people who have the 17" and they hate them bc the are like cookie sheets whenever you are carrying them. The only positive you have with those are the screens which i also dont understand. Is there a reason why they dont have "hi-def" screens. Anyways thats just my opinion. It may sound like im wining maybe but i love my macs and all of my apple products. Everything has its good and bad.

Blue Ray and 8800 nVidia?

re: not likely

While I believe there is a market for 12" laptops, I suspect that majority of that market is business users. Not exactly Apple's strength. I'm sure Apple looked at the sales data from the 12" PowerBook when they make the decision to not create a 12" MacBook Pro.

I'm sure they also looked at their upcoming product lineup. I think a 12" MBP would compete with the MBAir. And based on the reviews and reaction so far, the last thing Apple want's is competition for the Air!